Praying for rain

Roberta Huether spotted this praying mantis in her day lilies on Saturday evening.

There are about 1,800 species of praying mantids around the world. The insect is a carnivore, eating mainly other insects and even small animals. Many gardeners welcome mantids because they eat crop harming pests.

The insect gets its name because it has very long front legs that it holds in a position that reminds people of praying.

Hopefully this little guy was praying for rain.